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Frazier & Co. Moves Into Technology Investing

This article was originally published in Start Up

01 Jun 2000

Analysis

Jeff Dvorin

Executive Summary

Frazier & Co.'s recent launch of Frazier Technology Ventures (FTV), a new technology fund that will apportion part of its portfolio to e-health/bioinformatic companies seems, at first blush, to come at a bit of an odd time. The volatility of the tech sector has many VCs reexamining their positions in that arena, with e-health financings particularly hard hit. Frazier & Co.'s move is also contrary to the general trend of VC firms choosing to specialize in either e-health or traditional health care investing. A number of health care firms, like Oak, Sequoia and Accel dropped health care entirely last year during the e-health boom. And Brentwood Ventures spun out separate IT and health care groups. But, according to Frazier & Co.'s management, their timing was just right and reflects both patience and careful planning. Moreover, they emphasize that the new fund, while within the Frazier & Company infrastructure, will, in fact, be invested independently by a group of Information Technology specialists.